[HQ Ignorance] Scene 74: On the road to Farthest

[Nic Hughes]

(OOC : After sleeping on it I think Aalmon will have some strong 
feelings about the whole situation. Pretty confused feelings but very 
strong ones.)

Aalmon rode out to the West, making light of the threat from duck 
bandits with the gate guards as he left. As he rode on the deserted 
highway the chill air sucked all warmth from his fingers and toes and 
the sight of the frozen fields abandoned by peasants left to starve 
sucked the warmth from deep within him. He turned in the saddle to watch 
the line of prisoners and for a moment saw not the rough barbarians he 
had been assigned but the gentle people of Zoria led away as slaves of 
War. The goddess of the Reaching Moon was strange to him and his people 
but he had heard dark rumours of her demonic nature and what happened to 
prisoners brought to her, worse in her own way than the fate that faced 
the captives of War. How could he fight against the desolation and 
horror of war and then be a part of it himself just out of fear of what 
the consequences might be if he defied the illegitimate power of the 
dead empire.

Out in the desolate emptiness he stopped and dismounted. He walked up to 
the most seasoned of the captured warriors and drew his knife. With a 
quick movement he cut the bonds that tied him. Then before the man could 
react he spoke, his words halting as the dark moon robbed his magic of 
most of its power "A man should be free to defend his family, not a 
slave. Go. The men of Tarsh march now, be quick if you still fight. If 
they catch you tell them you found a sharp flint and cut your bonds to 
escape me."

Then he untied Icthya before freeing each of the others.

He remounted his horse and prepared to be on his way "Icthya, tell the 
others that there will be a battle very soon. The imperial soldiers are 
on the move, they seem to expect an easy victory. What the fellowship of 
Talor choose to do about it is their own affair, I will wait to see 
where their hearts lie. My concerns are to the North where the Nameless 
Man has sent us and I will do my best to keep a way open for us to 
travel. If your spirits can bring me messages I will try to listen for 
them and aid you any way I can. For the time being I can give the 
greatest aid where I am. I have warrants and papers to bring a number of 
prisoners as far as Tarsh from where we could make our way North by 
river, that might be the easiest way."

He nodded towards the freed prisoners

"If I am any judge then some of these men will be heading towards our 
fellowship as quickly as their legs can carry them into the coming 
battle, you might be safest if you stay with them. This land has been 
blighted and there will be many desperate thieves and robbers to prey on 
a lone traveller."

Nic

Lev Lafayette wrote:
> Scene 74: On the road to Farthest
>
> The Sun Dome Templar had nodded wisely at Aalmon's truth explanation of
> Icthya's background and history, and seemed to be more than pleased to
> be rid of this headache. "Take her to your commanding officer, and ask
> for leave there", he responded. And Aalmon did so, and his although his
> commanding officer questioned his bravery, for it seemed that he was
> finding an excuse for leave on the eve of battle, he let Aalmon and
> Icthya go, for there would be only minimal use for a mounted scout such
> as Aalmon in the environment through the wooded hills that they would be
> travelling through. "But you are not getting off that easy", the Lunar
> officer informed his scout. "There are other prisoners as well; take the
> lot of them to the Temple of the Reaching Moon in Tarsh. I suspect there
> will be more prisoners after the day, so if you can hurry you can give
> advance warning as well."
>
> Thus Aalmon found himself in charge of taking half a dozen prisoners
> northwest each tied by leather thong to their fellow, away from the
> coming Battle of Iceland. Apart from Icthya, there were five rebels,
> four men and one woman. From his summation, at least two of the men were
> battle-hardened, and wore runes of Wind and Movement, bearing their
> membership to Orlanth cult. The others two, although also Orlanthi,
> seemed to be simply peasants who had decided to fight against the
> civilising invaders. The woman on the other hand was very unlike the
> others; her eyes darted from one place to another; on her left arm she
> wore the rune of Disorder.
>
> Aalmon had to make a decision on which path to take through this harsh
> and cold countryside. Through Duckpoint to the west was once
> possibility, although it is likely there would be duck bandits in the
> direction. Directly north through Upland Marsh did not seem particularly
> feasible. Taking a north by northeast path would probably be the safest,
> however it was also the one most distant from his nominal journey.
>
>
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>   


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